ABSTRACT
The interaction of humans with coastal zones, as with many natural environments, does not usually develop within a proper management frame that preserves their natural components. This situation is particularly exacerbated on sandy beach areas as they are sites chosen by many people to live or spend some time. Over decades, scientists have been assessing the physical, chemical, biological and ecological effects of anthropic interventions on sandy beaches. However, there are some challenges, particularly related to methodological approaches, which are still being discussed. The main human activities which are known to generate an impact over sandy beaches include coastal defenses construction, nourishment, recreation, grooming, mining and fisheries, among others. The negative consequences of such impacts on sandy beach ecosystems are already demonstrated and are predicted to increase in the following years. However, most sandy beaches in the world are still uncontrollably exploited because the beach economic and social values are prioritized over the ecological one (including all ecosystem services). In this context, the importance of making society aware of the relevance of these ecosystems through scientific dissemination arises as a crucial challenge.
